Shock: BBC biased, sky is blue etc...

Shock: BBC biased, sky is blue etc...

June 18, 2007 4:14 PM

The BBC has today come under fire for promoting its own agenda of ‘trendy causes’ in a report commissioned by its own governors, forcing it this morning to publish guidelines ensuring impartial broadcasting.

Allegations and rumours have long been made about BBC bias, highlighted by an ingrained prejudice against the United States, the Conservatives and Israel. Matched with this is an over-enthusiasm for European integration, the Euro and a socially liberal agenda.

Were the BBC funded privately, this wouldn’t be a problem. Should the British people endorse such slanted reporting, then the BBC would survive on private subscriptions. Funding from the taxpayer, however, turns this bias into state propaganda, constantly pushing an agenda and discourse that the public are overwhelmingly uneasy with.

As we live in a more democratic age, with opinion available at the click of a mouse, can a top-down government-run media outlet remain ‘impartial’?

The answer, clearly, is no. And while the BBC tries to feign impartiality, the taxpayer has to fork out for government-sponsored nonsense, always treading a soft-left wing line.

Surely it’s time to put the BBC out to pasture, letting it out of government hands to compete. To breakdown the Stalinist monopoly – where one has to pay the license fee even to watch commercial stations – will be a great move forward for broadcasting and greater choice in personal viewing.

The BBC has today come under fire for promoting its own agenda of ‘trendy causes’ in a report commissioned by its own governors, forcing it this morning to publish guidelines ensuring impartial broadcasting.

Allegations and rumours have long been made about BBC bias, highlighted by an ingrained prejudice against the United States, the Conservatives and Israel. Matched with this is an over-enthusiasm for European integration, the Euro and a socially liberal agenda.

Were the BBC funded privately, this wouldn’t be a problem. Should the British people endorse such slanted reporting, then the BBC would survive on private subscriptions. Funding from the taxpayer, however, turns this bias into state propaganda, constantly pushing an agenda and discourse that the public are overwhelmingly uneasy with.

As we live in a more democratic age, with opinion available at the click of a mouse, can a top-down government-run media outlet remain ‘impartial’?

The answer, clearly, is no. And while the BBC tries to feign impartiality, the taxpayer has to fork out for government-sponsored nonsense, always treading a soft-left wing line.

Surely it’s time to put the BBC out to pasture, letting it out of government hands to compete. To breakdown the Stalinist monopoly – where one has to pay the license fee even to watch commercial stations – will be a great move forward for broadcasting and greater choice in personal viewing.

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